This week is going to be slightly different. This week each of you will be writing a dialogue to explain your point of view. First of all, let me give you an example of a dialogue:Bobby: Hi Susie
Susie: Hi Bobby
Bobby: I don't believe in God.
Susie: Really? I do.
Bobby: Well, you are stupid then.
Susie: Really? I was just thinking about how stupid you are.
Bobby: Let's go get ice cream.
Susie: Okay.
(. . . and on and on it goes.) Hopefully yours will not be as childish, right?! ;o)
Now, what I want you to do is to make up a person with a different worldview from yours. He or she could be Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, etc.--anything you want. You are going to discuss material/physical happiness and sexual desire (libido) versus peace and joy that come from God. You really have to think about what the other person will say, otherwise your dialogue will seem blatantly one-sided and not worth reading. Obviously, in our fantasies we all see ourselves winning every argument, but make this seem as real as possible. You may interview other people if you wish--just make sure they know you are doing it for a project! Don't exploit your friends for a grade!
(For hints on how to write a dialogue: 11th grade -- pages 223-229, and 12th grade -- pages 143-148 in your grammar books.)
♬ Happiness is a warm gun ♬
ReplyDeleteThat's it.
A: Happiness is very subjective feeling. One can feel he is happy in the depressed situation. Also one can feel he is sad in the delightful situation. Moreover, we should be mindful that there are many types of happiness.
ReplyDeleteZ: Right, happiness is like light. When light passes through the prism, it is scattered to many different colors. Even though light has many colors, we still call all of them as light.
A: Sometimes, people feel happy when he achieves something. They feel happiness when something good happens. However, people feel happy looking others’ failure. They feel pleasure when others feel pain. To be specific, happiness comes from many different sources.
Z: I think you believe that people can be happy whether they have religion or not.
A: Right, unbeliever can feel happiness, even though his feeling is corrupted. The point of the argument is whether it is God who gives individuals joy or an individual who feels his own happiness. I believe that all people can feel happiness regardless of the existence of God.
Z: It is true that all people can feel happiness. However, not all people can feel true happiness. Worldly happiness is only temporary. One commits sexual relationship to someone. Then he wants more and more to fulfill his desire. One seeks fame and wealth to gain more and more. The secular happiness is vain and temporary.
A: Yes, worldly happiness is vain. I know the truth. However, the happiness, originated from God is also temporary. A christian who visits a church camp feels joy and happiness at that moment. However, he goes back to normal after few days. The happiness and joy that he feels during the church camp fades away as our worldly happiness fades away. I, the unbeliever, have my own happiness. You, christian, have your own happiness. Under the category of ‘happiness’, we are same. Even though my happiness is based on fame, wealth and evil desire, it is definite that those give me happiness. My point is clear that God is not necessary for human beings to feel happiness.
Z: Well, I guess we have not much to talk about anymore. Before we go out to eat something, I want to point out that you misunderstood the meaning of happiness. The happiness is not satisfaction. You feel happiness because you fulfill your desire. The satisfaction for fame, wealth and sex gives you pleasure. In another word, your happiness is based on your satisfaction. However, the true happiness is not satisfaction of desire. True happiness is joy and peace. While your happiness is satisfaction, my happiness is . . . Well, it is really hard to define the concept of true happiness.
A: It is okay my dude. There is saying, “No worry, be happy.” Let’s go out and eat something!
A: Do you think that we can ever feel real happiness in our lives?
ReplyDeleteB: What do you mean real happiness? You are asking a stupid question. Happiness is not abstract thing. If you feel happy, it is happiness.
A: I know what happiness is. I mean if someone feels happy and satisfaction, why he finds bigger happiness? Is not it because he can not find real happiness? Everyone seeks happiness, even though they know they are happy. For example, the riches seek more money and wealth to make another goal complete. We want more what we already had, because we do not satisfy. Not satisfying and finding new target is related to sexual desire that all humans have. Is not it strange? That is why I am confused what real happiness is. I do not think it is really possible to have it without a religion.
B: Why not? A standard of happiness is not same. Everyone has different standard, and not everyone has faith. For me, I do not have belief, and my standard is not a big thing. I feel happy when I undergo new things. I am so happy nowadays. I do not go my high school anymore and my new life started in the university. I met new friends and professors. All things are new experiences. I do not expect another thing. I enjoy my life fully and feel happy.
A: Do you? I am glad you enjoy your life enough, but I wonder that whether you really expect another thing or not. I think it is true that you do not expect what will happen, because you are enjoying enough now. On the other hand, I think it is possible that you expect closer relationship with new friends. That is why you are having relationship with them. Is not it same as finding another satisfaction? If you feel real happiness, I think there is no reason to build another relationship with new friends, because you might be happy and satisfy with old friends.
B: It seems to be right, but I do not think finding true happiness is necessary to deal with the Christianity or other religions.
A: Let me tell you a story. I know someone whose job was everyone’s hope. He earned lots of money, and he was famous. However, he decided to quit working. He said he could not find perfect happiness on working in a big company, but he could find it by doing what God wants. At first, he said he was happy until he knew about God. He confessed he changed after knowing and having relationship with God. He said even though what God wants to him was small thing and it is less financial providing, he was much happier than earning a lot of money. Can you believe that someone who was high position in a famous company gave up everything he was used to it and decided to follow a new thing that seemed to be less valuable? Moreover, what if the new thing was for God who can not be seen? If he found full achievement by doing what God said to him, I think satisfaction and joy from God are much valuable and true joy.
B: Oh, well.. I need to think about it again. I could not think like that. Let’s go somewhere and talk about it more, eating something.
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ReplyDeleteFrank: Hey Ben, what do you want to be in the future?
ReplyDeleteBen: I want to be a billionaire!
F: You just want to be rich? Don’t you want any specific job?
B: Of course I do. I want to be the most famous person in the world like President Obama.
F: Is there any reason you want to be the most famous person and have a billion dollars?
B: I will certainly be happy!
F: I don’t think so.
B: Why not?
F: That is because nothing is going to satisfy you except God.
B: Do you believe in God?
F: Yes I do!
B: Are you serious? Even though there is a God, I would be happy if I were Obama and a billionaire!
F: Why do you think so?
B: If you have a lot of money and if you are famous, you will get delicious food for every meal, drive a nice Porsche, and marry a beautiful woman!
F: Do you really think money and fame will make you happy?
Listen, I have a story to tell you.
F: There was a king whose name was Solomon.
He was a wise man and very rich. Apparently silver became more valuable because there was so much gold that silver became rare.
He was also famous, of course, because he was a king. Everybody in Israel knew him and praised him for his wisdom.
However, when you look at his writings, especially Ecclesiastes, you can notice how he felt about his life at the end of it.
Do you think he would say he had a happy life?
Not at all! All throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, he says human life is vain.
Even though he had everything people desire, he was still not happy.
Instead, Solomon says that the only thing that makes human life meaningful is God.
B: No way! You are telling me money and fame will not make me happy based on the experience of one individual, Solomon who might not have existed at all?
F: There is recent and non-biblical proof that money does not make you happy.
According to survey by World Health Organization in 2008, nations with high GDPs, such as Japan and South Korea have higher suicide rates than developing nations such as Haiti. Of course not everybody is rich in the nations that have high GDP, but there are more rich people live in the nations. If there are more rich people who are happy because they have money, they should commit suicide less than people who live in developing nations do. However, the fact that people with less money usually commit suicide less seems that money cannot make people happy.
B: The statistics and surveys do not matter because I will be happy by getting more money and more fame.
F: Still, they are not going to make you happy. Listen to my own experience.
F: When I was thirteen, I broke my toe and I had to stay home for a month.
While staying home alone, I spent a lot of time playing computer games because they thought they could please me. I enjoyed playing them at first; however, I always ended up being unsatisfied when they were over. I felt like something was missing.
That was why I played more and more games to fill the missing part, but I was wrong. As I played more games, I became more desperate to seek the missing part and obsessed with playing games. At that time I was like a hamster running in a wheel because no matter how hard I tried I was not progressing. At the end I finally realized that playing games could never satisfy me. Since then, I stopped playing computer games. It is not only playing games that cannot satisfy us, but also anything else on the earth as I Timothy 6:9-10 says: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
B: How can you say that since you cannot even prove there is God?
If you can prove the existence of God, I will believe you.
F: I can give you many evidences that prove God truly exists, and He Himself really has created and preserved everything in this world through His divine power.
For example, evolutionists claim that God did not create the world, but it evolved itself over ages. They claim that organisms in the world evolved also over ages, however; scientists have found evidence that proves evolution may not be true. Stan Taylor has found several human footprints on the same platform with at least 134 dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River in Glen Rose, Texas. This discovery would not make sense if evolution were true because dinosaurs were extricated 65 million years ago according to evolutionists.
The creation by God has to be true, and therefore God truly exists.
However, if you are not willing to accept Him and continuing to ask questions to deny His existence, you will never believe it, no matter how many evidences can prove it.
B: I feel bad to disappoint you after all that you said, but I can’t still agree with you. This is the way I am.
F: You are not going to lose anything for trying to believe in God. So just trust me and come to my church on Sunday. If your heart does not move after attending to my church, then there is nothing I can do for you.
B: Ok, I will trust you, but this will be the last time.
F: Sound good! See you on Sunday then. Have a good day.
B: Bye.
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ReplyDeleteMideum: Are you a Christian?
ReplyDeleteAhngod: Well… Yeah…
Mideum: So.. you believe God created the earth and every single creatures, including you... Right?
Ahngod: Sure..
Mideum: (started to have doubt) Do you go to church every Sunday?
Ahngod: No….
Mideum: Um… then, when do you go to church?
Ahngod: Whenever I feel like to go.
Mideum: Okay… Did you accept Jesus as your Savior? Do you believe the fact that He died and rose again to forgive our sins?
Ahngod: Maybe..
Mideum: ……ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?!
Ahngod: I’m not sure….
Mideum: ……. Okay.. Do you think you are happy?
Ahngod: Yes! Sometimes….
Mideum: You sound pretty confident about it. What is your happiness?
Ahngod: Having a good time with my friends, not feeling any vanity, and just enjoying my life.
Mideum: Hmmmm.. I agree, but have you ever thought that those are only temporary?
Ahngod: Yeah, all the happiness are temporary. Until you die, you remember your happy moments and feel good about it. Memories can last until I get really old.
Mideum: Exactly, what about after your death?
Ahngod: Well…. Um… I don’t know….
Mideum: For me, I think the feeling of happiness from the world is not a real happiness.
Ahngod: No… How can a human define a real happiness? It is impossible.
Mideum: Our emotion changes like a roller coaster.
Ahngod: I know, but what you say about a real happiness is depends on your faith. If you believe God, your happiness will be from Him, but if you do not believe God, you can find happiness in the world.
Mideum: You don’t think there is an answer for happiness?
Ahngod: Yep.
Mideum: Okay.. There is a right answer, but I agree that the right answer cannot be a right answer for unbelievers.
Ahngod: Good that you understood me.
Mideum: Don’t you have insatiable desire? Do desire more and more. You will not be every satisfied.
Ahngod: So what? You keep achieve what you want and want more later. It’s like a cycle.
Mideum: A cycle does not have an end. You can be happy for a little moment, but it will not last.
Ahngod: I guess you are right….. Then.. How can I find a true happiness?
Mideum: Let me read you this verse: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). When you have a faith in God, He will provide you the REAL HAPPINESS.
Ahngod: Okay.. I do not know how I can have a faith in Him, but I want to try.
Mideum: I will help you.. Why don’t you start to come to my church every Sunday with me?
Ahngod: Sounds like a good start. Thank You.
X: Y, I need something to talk to you before the sunset.
ReplyDeleteY: Ok.. What is it?
X: Well, how do you think of the peace we can have from the world?
Y: Oh, it's interesting question! As I am a Christian, it seems that the peace we enjoy in this world is limited. Though as I am one of a creature living in this world, I cannot deny the happiness of the world, but compared to the happiness of God, the peace of the world is nothing.
X: What do you mean?
Y: There is infinite joy in God. By believing God and accepting Him as our saviour, we have opportunity to serve Him and praise Him. Though the happiness of the world seems to be perfect and enough, but those peace does not stay forever. What is your religion?
X: I am an atheist. I don't believe existence of God. However, I still cannot understand. I don't have any trouble, enjoying the happiness of the world. Those pleasures such as: wealth, honor, respect, rank, sex gives me enough joy. What other sources of the pleasure does God present to those who believe in Him?
Y: Well, unless you are a believer, you might not understand the meaning I am telling you. As you see, the pleasure of the world does not continue forever. You can think of that from now on. I will ask you some questions. Have you ever had the happiness and it continued for more than 10years?
X: Hm.. I never thought of that... But I guess I had enough happiness from time to time. When the happiness is gone, I could find other sources of happiness. So, I can say I had happiness for a long time, but it changed everytime.
Y: Yes, that is it! Though the happiness of the world is very weak and stops, the pleasure given from God is indescribable. God gives everlasting peace. He never forsakes us. Never Ever.
X: Wow.. What kind of belief is that? Are you sure? Are you sure that He will give those unbelievable peace and does not take away again?
Y: Of course. Believe me my friend. If you start to believe in God and serve Him diligently, someday, you will come to me and thank me for telling you the truth. Haha
X: Haha... well I need to think of that. Anyway, it's starving. Shall we go somewhere and eat something?
Y: Sorry, I have another meeting with Z.
X: Okay.. Then I will have a meal with Thomas.. Thank you for your brief descriptions. See you later~
Y: Sure, if you face those awkward problems again, come and ask me. I will be waiting for you on Sunday. Bye bye.
A: Hi! How are you doing?
ReplyDeleteB: I’m fine. How about you?
A: well, these days I feel bad.
B: what’s your problem?
A: these days, I start to doubt about whether God really exists.
B: my friend, what makes you feel in that way?
A: you know what? I start to question why people believe in God who can’t be observed by human senses. I mean, it is not scientific and reliable.
B: well, I understand your point. Many atheists and doubters feel the same. However, I have a different idea. Consider this situation. Everything in this world contains energy. We consider things that do not have energy as non-existence. However, we can’t observe all things.
A: what do you mean?
B: I mean.. it is not right to say something does not exist because one can’t observe it. Things are still there even though one can’t measure or observe. Actually, it is more unscientific to say in that way.
A: well, I still have another question. Do you know where the true happiness comes from? Do you think people can be satisfied by earthly things like money, fame, or sex? Or people only can earn ultimate satisfaction from God?
B: oh! I have thought about that for long times too. After looking for answers, I myself make a conclusion. My conclusion is nothing in the world can fulfill one’s desires. Because man’s desires are indefinite, man can’t be satisfied by worldly things. And God is the only one who can truly give one happiness and joy.
A; I feel in the other way. I think humans can earn happiness themselves. I think way people think can determine whether they’re happy or not. It’s not necessarily from God but from their imagination- I mean the way they think. Moreover, in this sense, I am saying that God may not exist, but God is actually created by human imagination in order to explain certain things.
B: but there are many things that are not explainable without the presence of God. Actually, there are many people who claim they have experienced the joy and happiness comesfrom God. How can you explain this kind of feeling?
A: that fits into the same category as well. As I said, people have tendency to create something up in order to bring them peace and order. For example, I have heard that many people experienced God and the joy from their church camps. Why necessarily church camps? Why? I think it is because people themselves make up some kinds of devotional moods and manipulate their brains to say they’re happy and this happiness is certainly from God. To do this, it is easier them to choose specific place- the church camp. Combining all these up, they feel God gives them the real peace and joy which actually were created by them. they are just a bunch of coward people who isolate themselves from the reality they should face.
B: your assertion is flawed. Do you think that is possible? One of the world’s big religion can be sustained by human creativity? I don’t think so. I believe that there is something that has power to move people’s mind. And that’s definitely God. How can you explain the world famous rich who have both physical fulfillment and fame being not satisfied until he met Christ? There are many famous people who earn worldly success claiming they are still thirsty, desiring something even they don’t know about.
A: that’s just kind of feeling when they achieved everything they need. It is the order of nature. Everything declines after it reached the top. It is just one part of natural process as things wear out after certain times pass. Meeting with Jesus is just another alternative they chose because they have no more things to achieve. It’s just like a rich man buys expensive art works because he has too much money left even after he uses much.
B: my point is that this experience is not limited to the certain people but includes all people in the universe. However, I acknowledge that every people have different ideas and I respect your opinion.
A: well, we should discuss this later after having researches about the issue.
B: of course, let’s have it later sometime.
A: OK~!
B: By the way, what college did you decide to go?
A: Bob Jones~ v
B:-_-;
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ReplyDeleteRiley: Hey Bin~ what’s up?
ReplyDeleteBin: I’m fine, AND YOU~? Hahahaha
Riley: cool, hey! Can I ask you a question?
Bin: Sure, why not.
Riley: What is happiness to you?
Bin: well, it is very hard to describe specifically in words. Okay, happiness to me is the condition of idealism. When there is no anxiety, trouble, or hurt, I call that moment “happiness”. In order to feel happy, you also need to experience the feelings of despair or sadness. Then you can really know what true happiness is.
Riley: So you mean in order to know true happiness, we first need to know the feelings of despair and sadness? Hmm……what about an infant? I think an infant knows about true happiness more than anyone in the world. After he drinks his mother’s milk, he will feel full which makes him happy. He has never felt the feelings of despair, sadness, and anger before, but he still knows what happiness is.
Bin: Well…….. I think we can feel happy in any time. YES! Happiness is for everyone. Everyone deserves to be happy. I think happiness depends on our thoughts. If we keep repeat that we are happy for a long time, we will probably feel happy. If we think we are sad and no one is around us, we will be depressed and sad. It’s just like that; our thoughts change and move our brains. Thoughts can affect spiritually and physically.
Riley: Now~ you are talking with me! Yes, it doesn’t matter whether other people say I look happy or not, if I am happy, if I feel happy, that’s it. I don’t care about others. Happiness depends on our faith. No one can make me happy. It’s me who decide to be happy or not.
Bin: Yes, I agree. Oh, I gotta go now, bye~ it was a great conversation with you.
Riley: Alright, bye~ Oh, hi~ Mrs. Lee, How are you?
Mrs. Lee: Great!
Riley: Do you have a time, Mrs. Lee? I have a question for you…
Mrs. Lee: Oh no problem, what is it?
Riley: I just want to know what happiness to you is.
Mrs. Lee: I don't really want myself to be happy. If my family is happy, then I am happy.
I heard this from another person. There was family the luxurious house and another family lived down in the basement. When a thief tried to rob the house, he heard not only a fighting sound from the luxurious house, but also a sound of laughter in the basement. So he went down quietly and saw the family. They were eating a meal with only Kim-chi and rice. I think that is true happiness.
Riley: Yes, the rich are not necessarily happy. Money seems a solution of problems. Many think money will make them happy. They think money can satisfy their desire, so they seek and seek and seek. However, the love of money is the root of all evil (Timothy 6:10.) Obviously, wealth will not make you happy.
Mrs. Lee: Yes, I think happiness exists with the feeling of restlessness also. We know that when we are happy the feeling will eventually disappear and so we try to enjoy that moment of happiness more.
Riley: So you think happiness is temporary feeling?
Mrs. Lee: Yeah, there will be no eternal happiness in the world.
Riley: I agree, Mrs. Lee! Do you have a time on Sunday? If you don’t mind, I wanna go to my church you and talk more about happiness.
Mrs. Lee: Okay… I have plenty of time on Sunday and I want to talk more about happiness with you.
Riley: GREAT! See you on Sunday then.
Mrs. Lee: Okay Riley, bye~
Jack: Hi Jill, how are you?
ReplyDeleteJill: I am fine thank you, and you?
Jack: I feel very sad. I don’t have happiness in my life. My life is so boring. I don’t have any enthusiasm to work on anything. I feel like I am done with this world.
Jill: Don’t say that. What’s the problem? Why don’t you start going to church? It will make a big difference.
Jack: Who cares about church, I’d rather sleep for the weekend. I only believe in myself, and no one can change that.
Jill: Please, you will have a purpose in your life if you become a Christian. Believe me.
Jack: Jill, you are a good friend, but I cannot agree on your opinion. What will make a difference if I become a Christian? Nothing! Will God come down from heaven and bless me to be the billionaire?
Jill: Well, that won’t happen. Yet, you will have a purpose in your life, and a new source of happiness. When do you feel happy?
Jack: Well, when I win a computer game, I get very happy. Winning lotto will definitely make me happy too. Oh, if I go out with a pretty girl, it will be the best.
Jill: See, you are caught up with all the worldly temptations. For Christians, worldly ideas are just mere joys. The worldly ideas are just temporary feelings. You won’t feel happy with winning a computer game when you are in grave.
Jack: Huh? Do you feel an eternal happiness then?
Jill: Well, I do. I am blessed by God, and I will go to heaven when I die. I will meet God and Jesus Christ, and have a great life in a place like a Garden of Eden.
Jack: Yeah, God that, God this. All you Christians are relying upon so many things. Why don’t you live with your own strength? Look at me. Do I have any problem in living? I am not a Christian, and I am doing well without any problem.
Jill: You just told me that you have no happiness in your life.
Jack: Oh. That doesn’t mean that I am not doing well in my life. Anyways, when do you feel happiness then? Do you feel happiness from going to church? I personally think that church is just a gathering place for people who are relying on superstitions. You are just making an excuse that you are preaching God. On the atheist’s point of view, Christians are just finding a thing to rely on. Why don’t you withstand the world by yourself? Also, I am not happy with the way that Christians exclude other religions, and only work within themselves. Just because of a different religious view, am I the sinner? Am I going to hell?
Jill: Let’s think. The existence of God had been proved by the scripture. Also, we go to church to praise God, not for us. The creator of the world is God. We are living in a world that God had created, and it is a foolish thing to not believe in God. Also, I do not agree with what you’ve said about Christians excluding the others. We are trying our best to convert the others to believe in Christianity. We are trying to lead others to a true religion. I do not want you to live alone in the world.
Jack: I don’t know Jill. Let’s just go and get some cheeseburgers for lunch.
Jill: Okay. Let’s go.
A: Hey, what are you doing to do on sunday?
ReplyDeleteB: I am going to have a date with my girlfriend, since the weather is so good.
A: Oh, so you are going to have a date after you go to a church right?
B: No, because she does not have much of time.
A: I understand but aren't you a christian?
B: Yes I am.
A: Then you should go to the church first.
B: Whatever, I will go to the church someday.
A: Dude, I can tell when you meet your girlfriend you look you happy but that's not a real happiness.
B: You are being weird. You are telling me that your happiness is from God not the world.
A: Yes, because worldly happiness will not last forever.
B: Oh, so you will spend your whole lifetime to pray and glorify God? How can you be so sure that you are going to enter the heaven?
A: As you telling me that you are a christian, you should realize God created the world and He promised that when we truly believe in God we will enter to His world.
B: That is so vague. Just because Bible tells that there will be the heaven, I have to resist all that funny things and not to have a fun with this world.
A: Alright, so think about it. How long will you have a fun time in this world? Maybe 30 years? What do you think?
B: You are right, that's why I will spend my to do what I want to do not what God wants me to do. Life is so short and uncertain. We have to spend our times to do whatever I want to do.
A: I do not understand you. You just said life is so short and uncertain. You must spend your short and uncertain life to be ready to enter to the heaven. To enter the heaven you must repend your sins and have a good relationship with God who decides whether you enter to the hell or to the heaven. You are being so stupid.
B: Oh! Am I? Not you? you also sin all the times. How can you say stop commit sin even you committed sin?
A: That's why I go to the church and repend my sins.
B: Well, I will repend my sins after I enjoy all my times.
A: Do you think that's possible? By the time you relize your a sinner and God is the supreme ruler, it would to late.
B: How can you be so sure?
A: After you have fun times for a long time, you will addict to the worldly happiness.
B: Hum.... I know... but you know even though I try to accept God as a savior, I am not so sure about Him. You know I tried to go the church and convert myself into a believer, but I have not yet been received holy spirit as you have.
A: It was not easy for me to. However, in someday He will come to you and convert your life. So you better delay the date and go to the church.
B: Ok...
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA : I have a lot of stress these days. I want to make more money, but our economy is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteB : People want to gain more and more, but it has limitations. We can't have everything we want. Money shouldn’t control our lives. Paul says in the Bible, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Pet 5:7). When you give all your difficulties to God, He will take care of your problems.
A : Still, we need money in order to live in our modern world. People must work to gain their desires. Without money, we can't obtain what we want. If we aren’t able to acquire our needs, we aren’t happy.
B : Yes, our desires are unlimited but the materials are limited. So, we can't accomplish all we want. Our true happiness comes from God. According to the Bible, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Tim 6:10).
A : But God doesn’t give us money, or materials. If you have a peaceful mind by believing in God and still you don't have what is needed to be comfortable, do you think you can have joyful life?
B : God gives freely what is needed. He knows everything what we need and prepares those things for us, before we ask to Him.
A : How can you know that? To be honest, I don't understand. Just believe in God, depend on Him, and pray? He is going to give us the things we need? I don't think that is right. The money doesn’t come from God but from our efforts.
B : Think about this. When you made a lot of money, were you full of happiness?
A : Well... I guess, not. I had the desire for more money and on the other hand, I was worried about lossing the money I had.
B : That's right. When you are interested in money or materials, it is human nature to want to gain more and more, but it will never give you full of happiness.
A : Okay, you said that happiness comes from God, do you always feel happy within God?
B : I think you are just pursuing happiness brought by worldly possessions. Jesus says that denying ourselves and obeying God is the right way of living and is true happiness. The happiness that is achieved in the world is not working well. You need to live spiritually. Then, it leads to a life full of happiness and peace. We are to turn to Jesus and seek to everlasting happiness in Him, rather than the temporary pleasures of life in this world. He gave us His life for our salvation. So, our true happiness comes from God and true happiness is eternal joy. According to the Bible, obeying God's commandments will give fullness of joy and happiness in your life. (John 15:10-11)
A : You are saying that the Bible is irrefutable truth and to try to apply those things in your life all the time, but I don't believe in God. I like alcohol and cigarettes, which make me feel better rather than your "GOD".
B : Have you heard of Solomon who was a king of Israel? He had experienced all kinds of worldly things that human beings might want to do. But he noticed that those things were all vain. "Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun" ( ecclesiastes 2:11).
A : But according to a friend of mine, who is a believer in Buddhism, "Buddha abstained from physical pleasure, but we can have all the advantages in life." I think you rationalize everything as the existence of God. What are the things you are blessed with right now, if you are obedient to God? You are looking for peace and joy under God's care as if all the problems can be solved by Him, just like I am looking for pleasure in alcohol and cigarette.
B : Yes, but your alcohol and cigarettes are a temporary pleasure and do not give you hope that your situation will change. If you believe in God’s care for you because Christ tells us this is so, you have something to hold on to now and in your future life.
A : True, those pleasurable devices will not go to the grave with me, although they will lead me to death sooner.
B : Those things only give you temporary pleasure. God gives us eternal peace and the ability to be content with whatever He gives us in this world, because we have His promise of a better world in Heaven. You should give it a try. Trust in Christ and you will experience a peace and joy, no matter what the world situation is.
A : Maybe you are right. I should give it some thought. I know I don’t have any peace or joy now because of the economic situation, and I need to make some change. Yes, I will give it some thought.
J: Joker B: Batman G: Gordon
ReplyDeleteB: Excuse me, sir. Do you know where is a Wayne Church? I need to get there.
J: Oh no! Do you go to church? Do you believe in God? Please, say no.
B: No... I mean yes! I believe in God. Why? Don't you believe God?
J: Well, I don't want to give up my happiness by believing God. I can not do whatever I want if I believe God. I think happiness comes from a freedom. Man must be free to think, do, feel, and have "things" that he wants. I don't want to be restrained by any religions. For example, I do drink and smoke if I myself want.
B: That's not quite logical to me. Just because man cannot do whatever he wants, it does not mean that he is unhappy. As a Christian, I am happy even though I go to church since I was a baby.
J: I know why. You are brainwashed by religious "rules." You heard them so many times that you don't realize what a true freedom is.
How terrible a brainwashing is! Do you know why
North Koreans still praise and divinize their dictator? They are brainwashed by the propaganda and their foolish parents from the birth.
B: What you are saying makes sense. However, I am still happy although I am "brainwashed"
by the rules. Because of God, I have a different happiness from you. My happiness which comes from a satisfaction and God is not temporary,but eternal. However, unlike me, you want "things" more and more in order to satisfy yourself.
J: Wait a minute. If it is long lasting and eternal, why do you go to church every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. If you are satisfied, you don't need God anymore who is an origin of the happiness according to your belief
because you got the eternal happiness. You just live with your happiness.
B: That's not what I mean. In order to worship God and refresh myself, I go there. I just feel happy.
J: This is why I don't favor religion and its followers. They are just biased. They are never objective. Why so serious? Do what your heart says to do. Have some fun, man. That's what a happiness is all about.
B: Trust me. You will feel empty if you keep doing that. You need to meet God personally in order to have an everlasting happiness.
J: You know what? You need to free yourself from the religious bondage first in order to have a real happiness.
B: Listen to my personal sto...
G: Excuse me, gentlemen. You are not allowed to fight on the street like this.
B: WoW, Gordon. You are a man of a perfect timing. Come and listen to our argument.
We are discussing about happiness.
G: Wait. Let's arrest the Joker first. Then, we will talk more about that.
B: Ooopsy, I totally forgot about it. Ok.
J: Snap................... Why so serious?
I want to talk more!
G: Sorry, you will talk with yourself in jail.
B: Now, Gordon. What is your opinion concerning happiness?
G: Well, I believe a sexual desire is our source of not only happiness but also joy and peace.
B: What? Sexual desire? That's a dangerous concept, Gordon.
G: Don't misunderstand me. I don't mean having sex with opposite sex. Rather it is a human's most natural desire. If we are faithful to obey our sexual desire which is by nature, we will have a true happiness. Sexual desire is everyone's motive in life.
B: That's a too bold claim and also limited. How can a human always fulfill his desire?
G: It's not that hard. Human should focus on himself rather than other things such as religion. He himself is living his life not God, parents, or friends. Think about the Joker. He experiences a true happiness when he destroys, an action which he most desires to do. He is just faithful to fulfill his desire and feels happy. Isn't it easy ha?
B: Still, it is too selfish. I know people who feel happy and satisfied when they help the poor and the disabled.
G: Come on! Do you think helping others really satisfies their inner desires? They will soon
feel bored and unintersted because they don't
help themselves. They nee...
Policeman: Sir, it's not a good timing to talk here. The Joker escaped from the jail.
B and G: -_-;.... We want to talk more!
(J: I told you guys!)